Staying in Belgium for maximum 90 days
If you are planning to stay in Belgium for less than 90 days, you don't need a residence permit.
In case you are staying in a hotel or hostel, you do not need to present yourself to the local government office.
However, if you are not staying in a hotel or hostel, you must present yourself to the Immigration Office in your place of residence in order to request a declaration of presence (“annex 3ter” for EEA citizens).
The International Staff Office can assist you with this application if you live in Antwerp of one of the districts. Please send an email to residencepermit.staff@uantwerpen.be if you prefer our assistance.
Staying in Belgium for more than 90 days
During the first days after your arrival, you will receive an email from the International Staff Office listing the documents you need to provide to apply for your Belgian residence permit. Please make sure to send a colour scan of the requested documents as soon as possible so your application will not be delayed. You can contact the International Staff Office via residencepermit.staff@uantwerpen.be.
Once you have provided all of necessary documents, the HR Officer will send your application file to the Immigration Office in Deurne (Antwerp). They will check all documents and request a residency check by the police (this is standard procedure).
After the police residence check has been completed, your HR officer will make an appointment for you to sign the documents for the residence permit. You will receive a confirmation email with a QR code.
After this first appointment you will receive a letter with a PIN and PUK code at your home address. Please notify your HR officer once you have received this letter so that he or she can book a second appointment for you to collect your residence card.
Your residence permit will be valid for 5 years.
If you are not living in Antwerp or one of its districts, you will need to register at the local government office of the municipality where you are living. We recommend that you check the website of the municipality first to check whether you need to book an appointment or if you can go without an appointment.
You will need to take the following documents to the appointment:
- Your passport
- 2 passport photos (most municipalities offer the option to have passport photographs taken in their offices which meet the necessary conditions)
- Your employment contract or postdoctoral scholarship agreement with the university
Once you obtained your residence card, make sure to send a copy to the International Staff Office in order for us to complete your HR file and to follow up the renewal if necessary.
Extension of the residence permit
EEA+ citizens need to initiate the application for the renewal of their residence permit themselves. If you have any questions about this procedure, do not hesitate to contact the International Staff Office via residencepermit.staff@uantwerpen.be.